Cellophane

James decided, maybe he didn’t hate everything about Regulus black. 

He found himself watching her, once again. He was leaning his back against the wall of a busy corridor, watching her from the opposite end. The sleeves of his uniform were rolled to his elbows and crossed over his chest.

Regulus herself was leaning against a wall too, her bag slung over her right shoulder. And in front of her stood Barty Crouch. 

That Bastard.

They were just talking. Their Transfiguration class had obviously just ended. She was gesturing lightly with her hands, and James decided he didn’t hate the way she said things. In fact, he liked it. And he liked it when she gestured with her hands. 

That was all though. Nothing else. 

With her hair down, he could only see parts of her face. Her chin, her nose, every now and then when she turned her head slightly in his direction, he could see her eye, and her eyelashes. Okay and that. He didn’t hate that. No, he didn’t hate that at all. 

Crouch was laughing, she wasn’t, but it still made his stomach clench. 

He rolled his eyes, and turned away. Over the opposite shoulder, he saw Sirius making his way over to him. 

Shit. 

Sirius stopped next to James, resting his hand on the wall James’s back was on, “Hey, Prongs, what are you staring at?” He asked, and then followed where James’s gaze had been. 

James felt panic rise in his chest. 

“Bunch of gits.” Sirius commented simply. 

Thank god.

“Have you spoken to her since the summer? Regulus- I mean?” James asked, making great efforts to keep his voice casual and even. 

“Huh? Oh, no. Only when I punched Crouch.” Sirius said, pushing off the wall to stand properly. 

“It’s still a bloody miracle no professor saw us.” They were both watching Regulus now. 

“Relax Jamie,” Sirius grinned, “You’re too uptight about that.Honestly, don't tell me you're growing up." 

“Moony about killed you,” James rolled his eyes, “And I about let him.” 

“Gods don't remind me” Sirius said, shuddering. “I didn’t think he would ever forgive me.” 

James smiled, and started to speak, when Sirius’s hand smacked over his mouth. 

“Hold that thought- there is our darling Snivilus.” Sirius said, cocking his head to the other end of the corridor. 

“Oh what a treat.” James deadpanned. 

Severus Snape was walking toward Regulus and Crouch, he stopped next to Crouch and faced Regulus as well. James observed the way Crouch clapped him on his shoulder, grinning, and Severus looked annoyed, but continued talking to Regulus. She looked at him with irritation. Her arms were crossed, and she still leaned against the wall, like she couldn’t care less about whatever Snape was telling her. Snape then moved past them, and disappeared around the corner, sporting his usual scowl. Regulus rolled her eyes after him, and said something that made Crouch laugh.  After a moment Regulus and Crouch followed suit, and left around the corner. Looking up, James saw Regulus take the staircase that led to the library. 

James and Sirius had watched the interaction in silence. 

Huh, that was weird. 

“That was funny, wasn’t it?” Sirius said, mimicking James’s thoughts. 

“Yeah, I wonder what it was about.”  

“Something about pureblood bullshit if I had to guess” Sirius said, “God I hate them.” 

James nodded silently. He wanted to follow Regulus. 

“Hey,” He turned to Sirius, “I’ve got to run, I’ll catch you soon though, yeah?” 

“Huh?oh- uh yeah sure prong.” Sirius responded, a bit suspiciously, he squinted his eyes as he looked at James. 

“What's going on with you?” Sirius asked, bluntly.  

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve just been acting a bit weird recently…”

“I don’t know what you mean” James responded “I am the same as always.” He said well, grabbing his bag from the floor and swinging it on his shoulder. 

“Right, right” Sirius said, but he still sounded hesitant. 

“Seriously.” James reassured over his shoulder, walking away. 

Obviously something was wrong with James, because now he was walking into the library for no other reason than to see Regulus Black. 

That was beyond fucked up. 

He should go back, it had now been two weeks since they last spoke. He doubted she wanted to see him, this would definitely be interfering in his “don’t piss off Regulus right now because she looks like she is about to pass out and never wake up again.” rule. 

But, when did he ever give a shit about pissing her off? In fact if he remembers correctly, pissing her off is one of his favorite things to do. 

Yeah, James decided, come on this was Regulus Black. The terrible. She was cruel and a wicked pure blood. So they fooled around. So what? Why should that mean he has to care weather she looks like she is on the brink or not. Ethically, he could annoy her. 

He was great at that. 

Ah, there she is. 

James saw Regulus moving through the empty book shelves, he went to the other side of the one she was currently looking in. Her rounding the corner would inevitably lead them to run right into each other. 

And that it did. 

James was leaning his back against the bookshelf and placed his leg on the other side, effectively blocking the entrance. He turned his head to look down at Regulus, feigning surprise to see her.

Speaking of, the snake princess herself had lost composure for a quick moment when she saw him. 

“Black,” James said simply. 

He missed looking her in the eye like this. It felt like it had been forever. But her steely blue irises were the same, when she looked up at him like this, he could see the white under her irises, just like before. 

Her eyebrows knit together in annoyance as she looked up at him. 

He missed that too. 

“Potter,” her voice was letting little emotion escape, but irritation could still be identified. “What the hell are you doing?” 

“This is a library, Black. Take a guess.” He said, his natural cocky air coming through. 

“Loitering in the isles, I mean.” Her bored, deadpan air was back too. “Move.” She said, sticking her hand out, gesturing for him to move to the side. 

James, obviously, did not. “I haven’t seen you in a while Black, I hope you weren't missing me too much.” he said with a cheeky smile. 

“Yeah, I’ve been in shambles. Now seriously, move.” 

James took time to observe her whole body as they stood there. In her right arm she held two books pressed to her side. He could see a bit of her collar bone that was poking through her slightly unbuttoned shirt, her hair was how it usually was, effortlessly elegant. She smelled good, a flower-like scent, mixed with cigarette smoke. She still looked a bit rough like she had last week, it made him feel worried. 

What? No it didn’t. He was not worried about Regulus Black. 

“Stop fucking analyzing me,” Regulus said, pulling him from his thoughts. “Just move.” 

He was ignoring her request, 

“I’m sorry for not seeing you for the past few days.” James said, sincere, but still slightly mocking. “I just don't particularly like your friends.”  

“Yeah? Well I don’t like yours either. Now seriously Potter, let me through.” 

“Fine, fine.” He pulled his leg back, and stood up straight. Regulus walked past him, but she was still right next to him, scanning the spines of the books. All he did was turn his body so his shoulder was now leaning against the shelves and he continued watching her scan the books.

“How is your friend there anyway? Nasty jaw.” 

She looked at him through the side of her eye, then went back to looking at the books. “I thought we agreed not to talk about our friends.”

“Oh, so the rules still apply? Honestly Black, I thought you were done with me.” James said, smirking. He was serious though.  

She turned to look up at him, and let her eyes gaze on him for a moment, before she dropped her eyes down and shook her head slowly “No…no I’m not done with you….are you done with me?” 

James sighed. Thank god she wasn't over this for good, James thought. They were in such close proximity and he just wanted to touch her. 

“No, Black, I’m not done with you.” 

She nodded.

They stayed in silence for a few beats. 

James made a bold move, he brought his hand to her face, and tilted her chin up so he could look at her.

She let him. 

He observed her face,

“Seriously Black, are you sleeping alright?” James asked, and used his other hand to push her hair behind her ear. 

She did not let him do that. 

Regulus pulled her face from his hand and stepped back. “That’s against the rules” She mumbled. Turning to grab a third book from the shelf. 

“How is that against the rules?” 

“You’re asking too many personal questions.” 

“Jesus Black, all I did was ask if you’re sleeping.” 

“Yeah well that’s personal.” 

God she was annoying, James rolled his eyes. 

“I've got to go, potter.” 

Fuck it. She’s already pissed, and I've already “broken the rules”. 

“Hey black,” he called as she began to walk away, he grabbed her upper arm and turned her back to face him, then he bent down and crashed his lips into hers. 

…she didn’t respond for a second, obviously surprised. After a moment though, her body relaxed and she opened her mouth to let him kiss her fully. James’s right hand was on her face, his thumb caressing her cheek, and the other was on the back of her neck. Tilting it up. 

It felt fucking good, he had been waiting to kiss her. 

His tongue was in her mouth, exploring every part of it. 

She pushed back after a minute, they were both breathing heavily. 

James watched as her expression went from dazed, to about to yell at him- and he clapped his hand over her mouth before she could have the opportunity. 

“Shh-shh, listen black, you still hate me, correct? And I still hate you. Us kissing properly every now and then won’t change that. Promise.” Her fingers wrapped around his wrist that was against her mouth. She stayed looking at him with anger for a moment. Then pushed his hand off her and stepped back. James stood up straight. 

“Jesus you piss me off,” Regulus mumbled. 

“Yeah you piss me off too.” 

She sighed.

 “I-uh, I have to go check out these books.” 

“Yeah, yeah, go.” 

She turned to walk away, but stopped at the end of the section, she looked over her shoulder , “Oh and congratulations by the way, but shouldn't you be gloating?” 

He smirked at her comment. “Well we can’t all be as arrogant as you.” 

“Right, right, of course.” She replied with a smirk now too. 

Regulus didn’t at all know how to feel. 

Good? Kissing James felt good, the fact that he wasn’t over her made her feel good. 

 But she still fucking hated him. how could these things mix? She didn’t know. Maybe it was immature that she didn’t want to think about her feelings. 

But she didn’t. At all. 

Fuck James and his “Are you sleeping” bullshit. 

Regulus rose from her bed the next morning having shockingly, not slept well.

She stood up, and stretched. The other girls in the dorm were awake too, and all moving around and getting ready. Regulus walked past her other roommates and into the bathroom, Alice was in there, brushing her teeth. 

“Hi Regulus, sleep well?” 

“Fine. you?” 

“Pretty good, want a smoke?” Alice gestured to the box on the sink. 

Regulus happily accepted. 

If impending war wasn’t going to kill them, having cigarettes for breakfast every morning would. 

Regulus took a drag, then bent over to wash her face. 

“So, how did you end up doing on the exam?” Alice asked, leaning against the side of the sink, she was already dressed in her uniform. 

“Got a perfect score.” Regulus dried her face. she exited the bathroom, going to her wardrobe to get her clothes. Alice followed her, and leaned her hip against the side of Regulus’s wardrobe to watch her. 

“Told you,”

“What about you? Regulus looked down at her buttons as she did up her shirt. 

“I did good.” 

“Told you.”

Alice smiled, then nodded. 

"Let's go down." Regulus said with a yawn. She took one last drag of her cigarette before putting it out.